WE BOOKED THE SOUTHERN SPORT THROUGH THE CLUB CANTAMAR WHICH IS PART OF THEIR OPERATION. CLUB CANTAMAR AT THE TIME WAS GOING THROUGH RENOVATIONS. BELOW IS A COPY OF OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS RESORT AND
SPORTS CENTER.
We have been eighteen Liveaboards. The Southern Sport ranks very low on our scale and is not one that we would recommend to anyone. Some of the reasons for this is the lack of variety and quality of food, poor overall maintenance of the vessel, lack of cooperation on the part of the dive masters. Concerning food variety and quality and comparing the cost of this trip against other trips we have taken they need to hire a professional chef! Examples of poor maintenance would be the dust laden furniture in the galley, foul odors in our room from who knows what and an air-freshner which simply enhanced the foul odors, and blackened feet from walking barefoot on the filthy floors. Regarding the Dive masters: we did not have a dive brief for each and every dive. Even after having a group meeting to discuss the incident of divers getting separated from their buddies and or group, the dive masters still continued on their own agenda with little to no regard to keeping the group together. Safety was obviously a very low priority to the dive masters and other Southern Sport personnel.
We continued onto LaPaz, since we booked an extended land trip with Club Cantamar and found that portion of the trip also less than desirable. They took us to Hotel Hacienda Bugambilias since Club Cantamar was going through repairs. The Hacienda Bugambillias was simply ok. It was clean and the one individual at the desk that spoke English attempted to be as helpful as possible. The diving, on the other hand, was very disappointing. For the most part we could have just as easily been in the Great Lakes and seen as much or more. Out of the four dives, two were ok, one was on a wreck and the other was with seals. Although we must say, we would have been far better off spending the time on the surface snorkeling with the 30-40 others rather then diving with the seals. We were so disappointed in the dives that we aborted the last day. The travel to and from the boat was very inconvenient because of having to carry so much of our equipment. We do have to say that the lunch served on the boat was good. There were no dive forms filled out or verification of certification. Did this trip meet our expectations, NO.
How could the trip be improved? Start out with a well maintained vessel, add a well-trained and caring Crew with safety utmost in mind, an Experienced Chef.
Dive masters who are not on their own vacation and have as a priority the safety and best interests of the divers placed before their own wishes.